THeBlueCashew

General Discussion => Art, Hard Rock & Harmony => Topic started by: J E B Stuart on January 05, 2025, 12:46:40 AM

Title: EZ Listening, Crooners, and More
Post by: J E B Stuart on January 05, 2025, 12:46:40 AM
I was gonna stick this in the "jamming too" thread, but decided to start a new thread, instead. Why? The music I have in mind for this isn't jams. This song, which is one of my all-time favorites, should give you a fair idea of where this thread is intended to go:


Amen.
Title: Re: EZ Listening, Crooners, and More
Post by: J E B Stuart on January 05, 2025, 01:21:02 AM
Ed Ames, who passed away in 2023, was big in his day, both as a singer and actor. This song reminds me of my parents:


Amen.
Title: Re: EZ Listening, Crooners, and More
Post by: J E B Stuart on January 06, 2025, 08:00:22 PM
Thus is a clip from the 1941 movie Sun Valley Serenade. It is a priceless treasure trove of great musicians and performers. You've got Glenn Miller, of course. But there's also Tex Beneke; the Modernaires; The Nicholas Brothers; Dorothy Dandridge; and plenty more:


Amen.
Title: Re: EZ Listening, Crooners, and More
Post by: J E B Stuart on January 08, 2025, 04:55:02 PM
It is no overstatement to say that George Gershwin was a national treasure of the highest order. Sadly, he passed away from a brain tumor at only 38 years of age. He left the world with numerous masterpieces and classics.

Rhapsody in Blue has been performed and recorded countless times over the years. This is the original version recorded in 1924. Gershwin  is on the ivories with Paul Whiteman & his Concert Orchestra:


Amen.
Title: Re: EZ Listening, Crooners, and More
Post by: J E B Stuart on January 09, 2025, 04:44:40 PM
The Sandpipers were very popular in the last half of the 60's. This is their highest charting hit, which is a cover of the biggest song in Cuba. The name of the song translates to "girl from Guantanamo."


Amen.
Title: Re: EZ Listening, Crooners, and More
Post by: Oliver the Second on January 09, 2025, 06:50:34 PM

A bit fast paced but I always considered him a Crooner - 

Title: Re: EZ Listening, Crooners, and More
Post by: J E B Stuart on January 09, 2025, 07:28:41 PM
Quote from: Oliver the Second on January 09, 2025, 06:50:34 PMA bit fast paced but I always considered him a Crooner -  . . .


Big band sound. You're in the right place. 👍

Amen.
Title: Re: EZ Listening, Crooners, and More
Post by: Herman on January 09, 2025, 08:55:28 PM
I could never get into crooners like Tony Bennett.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ysw4svDmcxc
Title: Re: EZ Listening, Crooners, and More
Post by: J E B Stuart on January 10, 2025, 10:18:10 PM
I coulda put this in the parking music thread, this one won out. Alpert had a huge hit with this song written by the legendary Burt Bacharach:


Amen.
Title: Re: EZ Listening, Crooners, and More
Post by: J E B Stuart on January 11, 2025, 11:59:07 PM
I remember this song on the car radio, AM of course. 😁 Formed in 1961 in New Jersey as "The Graduates", the name was subsequently changed to "The Happenings" although I don't know exactly when or why. Interestingly, the group still carries on, albeit with only one of the original four members. This was a big hit in 1966:


Amen.
Title: Re: EZ Listening, Crooners, and More
Post by: J E B Stuart on January 13, 2025, 01:39:17 AM
Karen Carpenter had a unique, beautiful voice; one you regonized immediately when you hear it. Sadly, she died of complications from anorexia nervosa at only 32 years of age.  I have always liked The Carpenters' cover of this tune written by the great Leon Russell:


Amen.
Title: Re: EZ Listening, Crooners, and More
Post by: J E B Stuart on January 17, 2025, 11:36:44 PM
This is the theme song from Somewhere In Time, probably the best chick-flick ever. Starring Christopher Reeves and the drop-dead gorgeous Jane Seymour, this score is beautiful:


Amen.
Title: Re: EZ Listening, Crooners, and More
Post by: J E B Stuart on January 20, 2025, 10:50:35 PM
There's a reason Canadian Michael Bublé has sold over 75 million records. He is damn good. And so is this song he co-wrote with Alan Chang and Amy Foster-Gillies:


Amen.
Title: Re: EZ Listening, Crooners, and More
Post by: Lokmar on January 20, 2025, 11:01:11 PM
Quote from: J E B Stuart on January 13, 2025, 01:39:17 AMKaren Carpenter had a unique, beautiful voice; one you regonized immediately when you hear it. Sadly, she died of complications from anorexia nervosa at only 32 years of age.  I have always liked The Carpenters' cover of this tune written by the great Leon Russell:


Amen.

Man, we used to tell the best Karen Carpenter jokes back in school!!!!
Title: Re: EZ Listening, Crooners, and More
Post by: J E B Stuart on January 22, 2025, 11:17:54 PM
America had a good run of success with songs like this. Written by Willis Alan Ramsey, this number came out in 1973:


Amen.
Title: Re: EZ Listening, Crooners, and More
Post by: J E B Stuart on January 23, 2025, 11:38:01 PM
The pop duo Peter and Gordon was part of the British Invasion in the 60's. Interestingly, Peter had a sister named Jane who dated Paul McCartney. Paul, in turn, gave this wonderful tune to Peter and Gordon who, in turn, got a #1 hit with it:


Amen.
Title: Re: EZ Listening, Crooners, and More
Post by: J E B Stuart on January 28, 2025, 01:26:03 PM
Jimmy Webb wrote this classic number for Glen Campbell, who turned it into a #1 hit in 1968. Glen passed away from Alzheimer's at the age of 81 in 2017:


Amen.
Title: Re: EZ Listening, Crooners, and More
Post by: J E B Stuart on January 31, 2025, 11:21:20 PM
The Girl From Ipanema spent two weeks at #1 on the easy listening chart and was a worldwide hit. Astrud Gilberto's beauty and softly sexy voice is what took this bossa nova classic over the top, IMHO.


Amen.
Title: Re: EZ Listening, Crooners, and More
Post by: formosan on February 01, 2025, 12:23:06 PM
She was eighteen.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_phZZgkT1Jk
Title: Re: EZ Listening, Crooners, and More
Post by: J E B Stuart on February 03, 2025, 01:56:19 PM
This song spent a week at #1 on the easy listening chart in 1975.  It's by Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds, although Reynolds left the group in 1972 and was replaced by Alan Dennison:


Amen.
Title: Re: EZ Listening, Crooners, and More
Post by: J E B Stuart on February 04, 2025, 10:55:05 PM
This special, heartfelt song was written by Kenny Loggins for his brother Danny to celebrate the birth of his son Colin.  And, not surprisingly, Anne Murray had a #1 hit cover of it:


Amen.
Title: Re: EZ Listening, Crooners, and More
Post by: J E B Stuart on February 07, 2025, 05:03:37 PM
The Little River Band is from OZ. I saw them live a number of years ago. Great show!  This is one of my favorites:


Amen.
Title: Re: EZ Listening, Crooners, and More
Post by: J E B Stuart on February 11, 2025, 07:50:51 PM
I could post this in the 1960s thread, but this one won out. This is a special love song with wonderfully simple lyrics:


Amen.
Title: Re: EZ Listening, Crooners, and More
Post by: J E B Stuart on February 15, 2025, 06:47:31 PM
Chad Stuart (no relation) and Jeremy Clyde formed Chad & Jeremy in 1962. Not long after, they were part of The British Invasions spearheaded by the Beatles, Stones, et al. C&J, however, had a soft sound that proved to be quite successful. This is their biggest song:


Amen.
Title: Re: EZ Listening, Crooners, and More
Post by: J E B Stuart on February 24, 2025, 11:14:51 PM
I first heard this in a 1985 flick called Fandango. Starring Kevin Costner, Judd Nelson and others, it didn't fare well at the box office. But, I am here to tell you - it is hilarious. And I love this piece:



Amen.
Title: Re: EZ Listening, Crooners, and More
Post by: Shen Li on February 25, 2025, 12:20:25 AM
Quote from: J E B Stuart on February 15, 2025, 06:47:31 PMChad Stuart (no relation) and Jeremy Clyde formed Chad & Jeremy in 1962. Not long after, they were part of The British Invasions spearheaded by the Beatles, Stones, et al. C&J, however, had a soft sound that proved to be quite successful. This is their biggest song:


Amen.
They look like the Beatles.
Title: Re: EZ Listening, Crooners, and More
Post by: J E B Stuart on February 25, 2025, 01:03:47 AM
Quote from: Shen Li on February 25, 2025, 12:20:25 AMThey look like the Beatles.

Heh. They were part of the "British Invasion" in the mid-sixties and the "mop top" haircut was popular.

Amen.
Title: Re: EZ Listening, Crooners, and More
Post by: Shen Li on February 26, 2025, 12:20:18 AM
Quote from: J E B Stuart on February 25, 2025, 01:03:47 AMHeh. They were part of the "British Invasion" in the mid-sixties and the "mop top" haircut was popular.

Amen.
I get that. The Rolling Stones looked the same.
Title: Re: EZ Listening, Crooners, and More
Post by: J E B Stuart on February 28, 2025, 12:30:54 AM
Cymarron was formed In Memphis, Tennessee and hit the charts with Rings in 1971.  They kept recording in the years following, but didn't chart again. No mind, this song is a keeper:


Amen.
Title: Re: EZ Listening, Crooners, and More
Post by: J E B Stuart on February 28, 2025, 03:21:15 PM
Granted, many of these songs can fit in more than one thread. Take this super song by B. J. Thomas, for example. It could go in the 1960s thread or the "jamming too" thread. Oh well.

By the way, the B.J. does not stand for blowjob. B.J.'s name was Billy Joe Thomas and he was born in Hugo. Oklahoma. He had several hits, but this one is my favorite.  It came out six years before Blue Swede's cover and climbed all the way to #5 on the charts:


Amen.
Title: Re: EZ Listening, Crooners, and More
Post by: J E B Stuart on March 07, 2025, 07:10:44 PM
This standard by The Association is, IMHO, one of the best love songs ever written. It should come as no surprise that, according to the B.M.I., it was the second most frequently played song of the 20th century:


Amen.
Title: Re: EZ Listening, Crooners, and More
Post by: J E B Stuart on March 31, 2025, 06:58:15 PM
Orpheus is from Massachusetts. They've been together off and on since the 60's. They were never chartbusters,  although a couple of their older tunes did make some moves on the charts. This is from 1968:


Amen.