EZ Listening, Crooners, and More

[J E B Stuart]

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.

[J E B Stuart]

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.

[J E B Stuart]

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.

[J E B Stuart]

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.

[J E B Stuart]

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.

[Oliver the Second]

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

[J E B Stuart]

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

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

Amen.

[Herman]

I could never get into crooners like Tony Bennett.

[J E B Stuart]

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.

[J E B Stuart]

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.

[J E B Stuart]

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.